Pumpkin Spice Latte Anyone??

My favorite thing about cold weather is cozying up with a mug of something warm and reading a good book...so, what about a pumpkin spice latte!? save some money and stay indoors- make one at home! i found a recipe! i have'nt tried it yet, but you can be the judge....

Pumpkin Spiced Lattes

Enjoy this delicious coffee drink guilt-free knowing your wallet and waist will thank you for saving money and calories making this at home.



3 cups skim milk
6 packets Splenda artificial sweetener
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
8 ounces double-strength brewed decaffeinated instant coffee
Whipped cream, to taste
Caramel syrup, to taste
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice

Heat milk in a heavy saucepan just until hot and bubbly. Combine the hot milk, sweetener, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice in a blender; blend on frappe setting until frothy. Pour the mixture into 6 coffee mugs to about 2/3 full. Then fill almost to the top with coffee. Garnish each latte with rings of whipped topping, drizzles of caramel and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain

so, my friend told me about a movie entitled amelie, a french film from 2001. he said the music alone was reason enough for me to watch it. and i agree. i watched it on saturday night and i've been listening to the soundtrack ever since. it is very french, with sexual references thrown in quite sporadically and unexpectedly.which made me laugh. the first two minutes made me wonder... but i'm glad i kept watching.
for the wikipedians, here's what "the free encyclopedia" has to say about amelie:
"Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of a shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation."

Amélie won best film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

now, thats cool...
i really want my friend, david, to watch it. he's a musical prodigy and i have a feeling he'd love yann tiersen's amazing music.

Maple Leaf Roses

I found another decoration for my party! and i've already made a few! i know i have seen this somewhere else before, but i re-found the instructions on how to make these awesome maple leaf roses! and http://haha.nu/creative/how-to-make-roses-from-maple-leaves/ has the full instructions...IN PICTURES!! which totally helps me out because im a visual learner. so, check it out!

pump-CANS !

my friend and i are throwing an ALL HALLOWS EVE party, and we want everything to be really artsy and different. So, while browsing on www.marthastewart.com, i found these really cool painted tin can jack-o-lanterns. a new and free spin on pumpkin carving! i plan on making a couple to put together as a centerpiece on one of the tables!

here are the directions, straight from Martha:

Create a new Halloween tradition by punching robotlike faces into cans. Add votive candles, and the heads come to life. Place in window, or stack as a centerpiece. Begin by cleaning empty coffee or soup cans and removing labels. Fill can with water, and freeze. Steady frozen can on a bag of rice, and punch holes with an awl and hammer. Defrost and dry. Paint exterior with oil-based enamel; if holes get blocked, poke with a toothpick.

Mod Cloth

OH MY GOSH! LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND! i am beyond excited right now. while browsing www.peopleofwalmart.com (a funny pic-me-up for a dull day) i spotted this ad. and it got me hooked. so. www.modcloth.com prices of urban outfitters with the style of free people/ anthropologie go Explore!

A Starry Night

Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of my personal favorites. and recently i discovered a sister drawing he drew based off his paiting. i think it is just as beautiful. i love how he uses line to create shape and movement. it sort-of reminds me of a refined doodle!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

on my way out the door the other day, i saw this book laying on my kitchen counter. i picked it up and started flipping through it and immediately immersed myself into the illustrations! bagram ibatoulline, the artist behind these beautiful illustrations, did an amazing job of contrasting darks and lights and using figure/ground relationship.

Wordle

so, i pretty much found one of the coolest quick-art generators ever! if you need a graphic, thankyou note, wallart, birthday present, anything. this is an awesome to bring together personality and creativity!

the one bad thing is that you can't save them to your computer, only print them or put them on a public gallery.. but if there is a way, then let me know!

here's the link! :

www.wordle.net